Android tablets haven’t gained as much traction in the marketplace as have Android smartphones. Last we heard, the Kindle Fire accounted for approximately half of all Android tablets sold. This, of course, no doubt frustrates Google, since the Fire runs a customized version of Android that has absolutely no ties to Google’s products and services. Now, if Gizmodo Australia is correct, the search giant is going to fight back. According to a leaked training document, Google will unveil a 7-inch Nexus-branded tablet at Google I/O this week to go head-to-head with the Kindle Fire.
Manufactured by ASUS, the 7-inch Nexus tablet will reportedly include a 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce 12-core GPU, 1GB of RAM, nine hours of battery life, and either 8GB or 16GB of internal memory. A single 1.2MP front-facing camera sits atop the 1280 x 800 IPS display with a 178-degree viewing angle. Oddly enough, the traditional back-facing camera is nowhere to be found. Then again, do you really need one on a tablet? The Nexus will, of course, run Google’s upcoming Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS and include NFC, Google Wallet, and Android Beam. It’s expected to be released in July – at least in Australia – for $199 for the 8GB version or $249 for the 16GB model.
This pricing is definitely in the Kindle Fire-range, but the specs are arguably much better. Will the new Nexus tablet be able to regain the ground that Google lost to Amazon’s tablet?
